Pneumatic-despatch-tube system.



T. BEMIS.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE SYSTEM.

(No Model.)

{Application filed May 17, 1902.)

Patented Nov. 4, 1902.

3 Sheets-Shaet l.

w/r/va SE8 e W E IN VE N 7'05 Thomas Bemis "m: uonngs PETERS 00Pnciuu'mm WASHiNGTON. a. c

No. 7|2,479. Patented Nov. 4, I902.

T. BEMIS.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE SYSTEM.

Application filed May 17, 1902.) (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2.

WITNESSES: //v VENTOI? O Thomas Bemis AONEYS m: mama PETERS 00..PHOTO-1110., wnsmum'q'g, v.1;

T No. 712,479; Patented Nov. 4, I902.

* T. BEMIS.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE SYSTEM.

{Applicatinn fi1e d May 17, 1902.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

. A TTOHNE Y5 mammals PETER! cu, Pnm'aumm WASHINGTON D. c.

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BEMIs, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

PNEUMATlC-DESPATCH-TUBE SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,479, dated November4, 1902.

Application filed May 17, 1902. Serial No- 107,800. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS BEMIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPneumatic-Despatch-Tube Systems, ofwhich'the following is aspecification.

In pneumatic-despatch-tube systems difficulty is experienced in theoperation of long lines where the station-terminal is a considerabledistance from the cashiers terminal and the pressure-creating device;and the object of my invention is, therefore, to produce a tube systemthe essentialfeature of which consists in the provision of aloop-circuit and a second or supplemental circuit which is con nected tothe two arms of the loop, so that a carrier starting in one arm of thefirst circuit will be discharged from said arm of the first circuit intothe first arm of a second circuit, and from thence returned to thesecond arm of the first circuit.

A further object of my invention is to provide a convenient switchmechanism by means of which a carrier may be cut out from the line anddischarged into a terminal or into an independent line, to provide animproved formof carrier-injector by meansof which a carrier may beinjected into the system, and to provide such improvements in details ofconstruction as shall be hereinafter pointed out.

. The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view of a simple form of my system. Fig. 2is a sectional detail of my improved switch. Fig. 3 is an elevationthereof in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, the coverplate being removed, so as to expose the valve. Fig. 4 is a sideelevation, with parts broken away, of

" my improved carrierinjector.

Fig. 5 is a plan thereofwith parts broken away. Fig. 6

is an end elevation in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4,and Fig. .7 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 4E.

cut-out D described and claimed in a companion "application, Serial No.107,799, filed May 17, 1902. At the end of pipe 10 I arrange one of mycut-outs K, which is described and claimed in the aforesaid companionapplication. The end of pipe 10 enters the rear "end of thecarrier-passage 11 of the cut-out K, and arraugedin said carrier-passageis a valve 12, which normally prevents communication between the twoends of the carrierpassage and also serves to deflect the air-currentfrom pipe 10 into the air-passage 13 of the cut-out. (Jommunicatingwiththis airpassage 13 is a pipe 14:, which leads into a pipe 10, whichforms the return-arm of the first circuit. Mounted in the return-arm 10of the first circuit may be one of my carrier-injectors B.

Leading into the farther or forward end of .the carrier-passage 11 ofthe'cut-out K is an air-inlet 15, and leading from said portion of thecarrier-passage 11 is a pipe 16, which forms the first arm of the secondor supplemental circuit, and this pipe leads to a cut-out I, which isprovided with a valve 12, carrierpassage 11, and air-passage 13, likethe cutout K, and difiers from cut-outK only in the' omission of theair-inlet 15. The forward end of the carrier-passage 11 of cut-out Icommunicates with pipe 10, while the air-passage 13 thereofcommunicates, through a pipe 17, with a non-carrierreceiving trunk-line18, which leads into the suction drum or device 19. As has beenpreviously stated, the pipe 16 leads from cut-out K to cut-out I and hasmounted therein one or more switches Aand carrier-injectors B.

The switch A is similar in most respects to the switch described andclaimed in my Patent No. 696,305 and consists of a main carrier-channel21,in one side of which is formed an opening 22-, normally closed by avalve 23, pivoted at its rear end at 24 and normally held closed by aspring 25. Within the channel 21 is located a switch 26, which isadapted to engage switch pins on predetermined carriers, so as todeflect them from themain channel 21 through the opening 22 into achamber 27, which surrounds va1'v'e23 and from whichleads a branch28,which'may lead immediately to ajdischarge-terminal, as shown adistant station, as shown at the first switch. In order to facilitatethe'opening of the valve of this switch by the carriers and also toadapt the switch for use with a relay-line for astation at a distantpoint from the switch, it is necessary to provide an air-inlet leadinginto the branch 28, so that an independent air-current may beestablished through said branch. In my prior patent heretofore mentionedthis air-inlet was located in the branch beyond the valve. In thepresent construction instead of arranging the air-inlet in the branch 28beyond the valve 23 I arrange said inlet 29 so as to lead into thechamber 27'immediately to the rear of the valve 23, so that as soon asthe valve 23 is engaged by a carrier which has been thrown in thatdirection by switch 26 the valve will cross the inlet 29, so that airmay be drawn in through said inlet into the main carrier-channel 21,thus resulting in an immediate equalization of pressures upon both sidesof the valve, so that the valve may be very easily opened by the movingcarrier.

The carrier-injector consists of a main tubular body 30, into oppositeends of which are secured sections of the pipe-line 16, and pivoted atits rear end within this channel is a stop-plate 31, which is heldnormally up out of the line of the channel in body 30 by means ofaspring 32. Arranged at the forward end of the stop-plate 31 is areceiving-chamber 33, which is substantially of the length of a carrier.Arranged between chamber 33 and the channel in body 30 is a valve 34,which may be withdrawn from between the chamber and channel by means ofan operating-plunger 35. Arranged adjacent the forward end of the plate31 is a cam 36, which is adapted to be engaged by valve 34, so as tothrow plate 31 down into the channel of body 30 as soon as valve 34starts in. its retractive movement from between the receiver 33 and thechannel in body 30. One side of chamber 33 is open and is normallyclosed by a door 37, which is pivoted at 38 to the receiving-chamber 33and provided with a cam 39. Reciprocably'mounted on chamber 33 is aplunger 40, which at its outer end is in engagement with the cam 39,while its inner end is extended through into position in transversealinement with one end of the valve 34, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.4, the plunger being held in normal engagement with cam 39 and out oflongitudinal alinement of valve 34 by a spring 41. Door 37 is normallyheld closed by springs 37.

The several fixtures, such as the parts A, B, K, I, and D, arepreferably made in longitudinal sections or halves, and difficulty hasheretofore been experienced in making the joints air-tight. For thispurpose I form on the mating face of one section suitable ribs 42 and inthe mating face of the other section suitable grooves in which the ribsmay lie.

. In order to secure the ends of pipes into the fixtures, the channelsof said recesses are recessed internally, as at 43, and the end of thepipe correspondingly flared so as to fit the recess. In assembling sucha construction suitable cement may be laid on the ends of the pipes andthe two parts of a fixture clamped thereon, thus making a cheap but veryefficient air-tight connection. Two sections of pipe may be similarlyconnected where no cut-out is desired by a two-part coupling SlIIlllarlyprovided with internal recesses for the reception of the flared ends ofthe pipe.

In operation an air-current is set up through pipe 10 and the rear endof passage 11 of cutout K, air-passage 13 of said cut-out K, pipe 14 andpipe 10, passing through the body 30 of theconnected carrier-injector Band returning to the cashiers terminal, (not shown,) and from thence tothe suction device, this current forming what I have heretoforedenominated the loop-circuit, an independent air-current startingthrough opening 15 of the cut-out K, and passing from thence throughpipe 16 and the connected switch and carrier-in j ector B to the cut-outLfrom whence it passes through the passage 13 of said outout I andthrough pipe 17 to the non-carrierreceiving trunk-line 18, and fromthence to the suction device, this current being what I have denominatedthe supplemental aircurrent, and an independent air-current passingthrough the inlet 29 of the first switch A, and from thence through itspipes 20'to the cut-out D, from which it is discharged into any suitablereceiver. (Not shown.)

If desired, a suitable switch and carrier-injector may be introduced atany point in the pipe 10'--at the point X, for instance.

I claim as my invention 1. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, thecombination, with a suction. device, of a loop-circuit pipe-line, asupplemental-circuit pipe-line, one end of said supplemental pipelinebeing connected to the first arm of the loop, and the other end of thesupplemental pipe-line being connected to the second arm of the loop, acut-out arranged at the point of junction between the first arm of theloopcircuit and the beginning of the supplemental circuit, said cut-outbeing provided with means for allowing the passage of a carriertherethrough from one circuit to another, a cut-out arranged at thepoint of junction between the supplemental circuit and the second arm ofthe loop-circuit and provided with means for allowing the transfer of acarrier from the supplemental circuit to the loopcircuit, and anair-passage between the supplemental pipeline and the suction device.

2. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a

loop-circuit pipe-line, a supplemental pipeline, means for maintainingindependent aircurrents through the loop-circuit pipe-line and thesupplemental pipe-line, means for automatically transferring a carrierfrom one arm of the loop-line to the supplemental line, and means forautomatically transferring a carrier from .the supplemental line to theother arm of the loopJine. I

3. In a pneuinatic-despatchtube system, the combination withaloop-circuit pipe-line, of asupplemental-circuit pipeline, means formaintaining independent air-currents in the two pi pe-lines, meansforantomatically transferring a carrier from the first arm of the loopcircuit to the supplemental circuit, means for automaticallytransferring a car rier from the supplemental circuit to the other armof the loop-circuit, and carrier-discharging and carrier injecting meansarranged in said circuits. r I

4. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a switch consisting of a maincarrierpassage having an opening in one side thereof, a branchcarrier-passage leading from said opening, a valve arranged to normallycover said opening, means fordefiecting a carrier from the main passageinto engagement with the.

valve, and an air-inlet leading into the branch passage immediatelybeyond the valve where by, as soon as the valve starts to open, acurrent ofair may pass through said inlet into the main carrier-passage.

5. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a carrier-injector thereforconsisting of a tubular main body adapted to receive a forwarding-pipeof thesystem, a carrier-receiving chamber communicating with said mainbody, a door normally closing the entrance of said chamber, a valvearranged to close communication between the carrier-chamber and the mainbody, a stop arranged in said main body, intermediate connectionsbetween said stop and valve whereby a withdrawal of the valve frombetween the receiving-chamber and the main body will project said stopinto the line of the main body, and intermediate locking mechanismbetween the door and valve and operated by the movement of the door forpreventing the opening of the door except when the valve lies betweenthe carrier-receiving chamber and the main body and for preventing thewithdrawal of the valve from between the receiving-chamber and the mainbody except when the door is closed.

6. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a carrier-injector thereforconsisting of a tubular main body adapted to receive a forward.-ing-pipe of the system, a carrier-receiving chamber communicatingtherewith, a valve arranged between said carrier-receiving chamber andthe main body, a stop-plate mounted mediate locking mechanism betweenthe door and valvewhereby the door may not be' opened except when thevalve closes communication between the receiving-chamber and the mainbody and the valve may not be opened except when the door is closed.

7. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a carrier-injector thereforconsisting of a carrier-receiving chamber having inlet and outletopenings, a door arranged to close the inlet, a valve controllable bythe operator arranged to'close the outlet, a locking-pin, and meanscarried by the door for throwing said locking-pin into engagement withthe valve, the arrangement being such that the door may at all times beopened when the valve closes the outlet and only then, and the valve maynot be opened except when the door closes the inlet.

8. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a

carrier-injector therefor consisting of a carrier-receiving chamberhavingan inlet and an outlet, a door arranged to close said1nlet,a

valve controllable by the operator arranged to close the outlet, alock-pin, a cam carried by the door and arranged to engage said lockpin,and means for maintaining the pin in engagement withthe cam, thearrangement being such that the valve will, through the lock-pin,prevent the opening of the door except when the valve closes theoutlet,and

the pin will prevent the opening of the valve except when the door isclosed. a

9. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a pipeline having an opening inits side, a slidable valve arranged to close said opening,

a stop-plate pivoted at its rear end in thepipe-' line and projectingtoward the opening, and a cam arranged between the stop plate and valve,substantially as and for the purpos set forth. I i

In witness whereof I have hereunto setmy hand and seal, atIndianapolis,lndiana, this Witnesses:

ARTHUR M. Hoon, JAMES A. WALSH.

